Making the Case

About Us

Letter: Children Need Support from the Start

Jun 08, 2014Burlington Free PressSera Anderson

One thing I hope to accomplish as Mrs. Vermont 2014 is to provide support in any way that I can to children all across Vermont. After becoming a mother, I have realized how important the well-being of a child is for our communities, our future, and to the foundation of our state and nation. If we can’t bring up healthy children and make their well-being a priority, then we are doing a disservice to humanity. A strong foundation for children will set the stage for their future learning and social-emotional development. If we want our kids to be prepared to succeed in school and beyond, giving them that foundation begins the day they’re born.

I am writing on behalf of Let’s Grow Kids, which is a privately-funded, statewide public education campaign about the importance of giving our children a quality early experience to help them succeed in life. Surprisingly, 38 percent of Vermont’s children show up to Kindergarten unprepared. We need to provide them with interactive learning environments and healthy diets, and ensure they have supportive relationships and lives that are free from abuse and neglect.

Let’s Grow Kids is urging Vermonters to focus on the first years in our children’s lives. Giving our children — our future leaders — every opportunity to succeed is in the best interest of us all. Please help us spread the word and join the campaign to focus on the first years at letsgrowkids.org.